The lyke may be sayde of the Gloria patri, and the Athanasius Creede, it was fyrst brought into the Churche, to the inde that men thereby▪ should make an open profession in the Churche of the diuinitie of the sonne of God, agaynst the detestable opinion of Arius and his Disciples, wher∣with at that tyme maruelously swarmed almost the whole Christendome, (*) 1.1 nowe that it hath pleased the Lorde, to quench that fyre, there is no such cause why these thinges shoulde be in the Church, at the least why that Gloria patri, should be so often repeated.
Euen as conuenient now as it was then: for it is as necessarie to maynteyne* 1.2 truth, and make it knowne, as it is to suppresse errours: and yet it is not vnknowne, that euen in our dayes, and in this Churche there haue bene Arians, and I praye God there be none still. I much suspect the matter, not well vnderstanding where∣vnto those glances of yours at Gloria patri▪ and Athanasius Creede do tende. Gloria patri, besides that it conteyneth a briefe confession of the Trinitie, and of the Diuinitie of* 1.3 Iesus Christe, it is a magnifying and glorifying of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, thrée persons and one God: and Athanasius creede, is not onely an excel∣lent* 1.4 confutation of Arius heresie, but a playne declaration of the mysterie of the Tri∣nitie, such as is necessary for all Christian men to learne and know: and therefore he that is offended with the ofte repetition or saying of eyther of them, I cannot tell what I should iudge of him. But vndoubtedly there is greate cause why I should sus∣pect him at the leaste of singularitie and vnquietnesse. Shall we not oftentymes re∣hearse the Articles of our beliefe in God the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoste, bycause all menne be now perswaded therein, and none knowne that maketh any doubte? the reason is all one, and preuayleth as well agaynst the repeating of this, as of the other. I thinke your meaning is, that we know to muche, and therefore now we must learne to forget.
Well your authoritie is little, and your reasons much lesse, and therefore they are lyke to stande in Statu quo: and this is moste sure, that harme they do none, but much good, bycause a good thing cannot be to ofte sayde or hearde.